31/08/2011 | C. Martin
New figures released by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism have shown an 18.3% rise in tourist arrivals in the island nation to 520,483 during the first seven months of this year.
Tourist numbers stood at 439,864 during the January-July period of 2010.
The highest number of tourists visiting the Maldives between January and July 2011 came from China, at 103,734. They constituted 19.9% of total visitor numbers.
The second highest number of visitors came from the UK, accounting for 11.7% of the total number arriving in the Maldives.
Mohamed Maleeh Jamal, secretary general of Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, said the past decade had seen an increase in direct service to the island country offered by some airlines, making the location more accessible to people going on luxury holidays.
He also said that an increasing number of airports are being built in places nearer to resort islands, such as in Baa Atoll.
Copyright Press Association 2011